"Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and the bill's cosponsors should be commended for introducing this important legislation to address the growing scourge of counterfeiting and piracy over the Internet," Hirschmann trumpeted in an official statement.

"The sale of counterfeit and pirated goods online is rampant across the world, hindering our economic growth, killing our jobs and putting our consumers at risk. These sites are illegal and the Senators have taken an important step towards remedying this growing problem."

According to Hirschmann, America's innovative and creative industries account for more than $5 trillion of the US GDP, drive more than half of exports and employ over 18 million Americans.

"Nevertheless, reports indicate that copyright piracy from motion pictures, sound recordings, business and entertainment software and video games costs the US economy $58.0 billion in total output.

"This adds up to costing 373,375 American jobs, $16.3 billion in earnings, and costs federal, state and local governments $2.6 billion in tax revenue."